Method and means for protectively encasing wires



E. F. SVEC June 14, 1960 METHOD AND MEANS FOR PROTECTIVELY ENCASING WIRES Filed Sept. 10, 1957 51721! F Svec b fl *WZZLHE United States Patent METHOD AND MEANS FOR PROTECTIVELY ENCASING WIRES Emil Svec, New York, N .Y.; Viera Marina Svec executrrx of the estate of said Emil F. Svec, deceased, assrgnor to Flexigrip, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 10, 1957, Ser. No. 633,116

20 Claims. (Cl. 174-72) This invention relates generally to branched tubular structures and methods of protectively encasing a series of electrical wires and the like.

More particularly, the present invention relates to articles in the form of flexible strips of extended length having inter-engageable edge portions for forming branch and trunk tubes for enclosing and covering the wires, and means for joining the branch and trunk tubes in assembly together.

It has previously been proposed, as in the Kidd patent, No. 2,756,172 that a strip of flexible plastic material having ribbed and grooved edge portions be matingly engaged to provide a covering for pipe and the like. More recently it has also been proposed in the applicants copending application entitled Tube Forming Article and Tube Structure Formed Therefrom, Serial No. 659,886, filed May 17,1957, that a tube having inter-engagea'ble edge portions be provided with angularly related hook-like ribs and complementary shaped grooves to increase the resistance to separation of the mated edge portions.

The present invention involves both a method and structure for protectively encasing electrical wire and the like. The method deals with the step of encasing the wires, which include the steps of connecting the branch and trunk tubes. The present invention further concerns a branched tubular structure comprised of thin.

plastic strips formed into branch and trunk tubes and novel means for connecting the branch and trunk tubes.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a branched tubular structure with at least one of the trunk and branch tubes comprised of strips of flexible plastic material having inter-engageable edge portions for forming a strip into a tube and with the branch tube having an extension to be wrapped around the trunk tube and secured to the assembly.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a method of protectively encasing a series of electrical wires and the like, including the steps of encasing the wires by enveloping a trunk tube about the wires, notching the trunk tube, angularly turning the wires with respect to the trunk tube through the notches, protectively encasing the wires extending exteriorly of the trunk tube by interlocking the edges of the flexible plastic strip to form a branch tube, and wrapping a branch tube extension around the trunk tube in such manner as to secure the extension in place, thereby protectively encasing the wire.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an effective method and means for protectively encasing electrical wire and the like.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a low cost, relatively simple to install branched tubular structure for protectively encasing electrical wire and the like.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims, and from the accom- 2,941,027 Patented June 14, 1960 panying drawing illustrating several embodiments of this invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a branched tubular structure;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the branched tubular structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the manner in which edges of the tubular strips appearing in the other figures may be engaged in the assembly;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view illustrating the manner in which the branch tube strip of Figure 2 is formed so as to provide an extension;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Figure 2, only illustrating a modified form of my invention;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the branch tube shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to Figures 2 and 5, only illustrating a modified form of the invention with the branch and trunk tubes shown in a preliminary stage of assembly; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 7, with the branch and trunk tubes shown in a final state of assembly.

The reference numeral 9 indicates generally a series of electrical wires or tubes which are encased by my branched tubular structure 10 which is comprised of a trunk tube 11 and a series of branch tubes 12, which tubes may be of the same or any suitable diameter. As illustrated the trunk and the branch tubes are all comprised of strips of thin flexible plastic material, suitably formed from a plastic, such as a vinyl polymer or copolymer, as for instance, polyvinyl chloride, or from polyethylene, or other substantially waterand moisture proof plastic material having high di-electric strength and suitable strength against being torn or ruptured despite its relative thinness.

The trunk and branch tubes may be provided with parallel, longitudinally extending edges 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b, which may be of the same material as the bodies of the strips and which are preferably integrally formed therewith by extrusion either as a flat or tubular strip of indefinite extended length. If extruded as a tube initially, the tube is severed between the thickened edge portions to permit it to be flattened out.

According to the principles of the present invention, the trunk tube may optionally be comprised of a strip of material having its edges interlocked in assembly. As illustrated in Figure 3, where an enlarged sectional view of the inter-engaged edges 12a and 12b is shown, the intor-engaged edges or edge portions may be of an interlocking type of construction similar to that shown in the Madsen patent, No. 2,637,085, or more specifically like that in my aforementioned copending application.

In this case, the edge portions 12a and 12b are each provided with an alternating series of hook-like extensions 13 and hook-like or complementally shaped grooves 14. The median planes of the hook-like ribs and grooves are sloped at an angle less than a right angle to the plane of the strip so as to increase the resistance to separation of the matingly engaged edge portions when oppositely acting forces are applied to the strip either during the wrapping operation to place the strip in tubular form or after the tube has been formed.

The closure strips 12a and 12!) are identical in cross section but oflset in opposite directions from the plane of the strip 10 and adapted to confront each other when overlapped. Since the closure strips 12a and 12b are otherwise identical, only one need be described. The closure strip is provided with alternating, adjacent ribs mentally formed and 'the ribs are provided with' eniarged v and the trunk tubes to provide a moisture proof type head portions and restrictive neck portionsi-ld be V tween which are formed edges '17-"? that irnpart to: the ribs a hook-like contour. and 12b are matingly intereengaged; the edges 17 era1he adjacent I ribs 14 are in opposed"r'ela'tir'm'ship to resist separation of the edges 12a and 12b.

-"Closure ofi the.tube'tol-form ecseam S can be etl'e'cted manually by incrementally pressing" together successive portions of' the'confronting closure strips of the' edge portions 12a and 12b. While a slider could be used' 'fof thepurpose' itis'preferable not tense a slider, since then the seam S can be substantially water-and mois'ture-tight throughout=its= extent; whereas-this is not" generally possible When" a slider isused. Where the tubes are made of a thermal plastic material, the seam S can be permanently closed by heat sealing the edge strips 12a and I-Z-btogc'ther along their contact surfaces. Asillustrated',&the trunk tube L1 is also provided with identical closure strips 11a and "1-1bof the type shown" in Figure 3'.

In order to protectively encase bundles of wires, conduitsysmall' diameter tubes, or for"othercovering orenclosing. purposes," the trunk tube isqpreferably' notched at1'7 providing"openingsor'open areas along the length thereof'at a selected number' or intervals corresponding to the numbenof'branch' tubes 12 required.

According" to principles of the present' invention, the

branch 'tubes 12 .may bejpro'vide'd' with particularly constructed integral. extensions 12c, whicha'reof a'length' su'fficienttor' the extensionto' be wrapped 'around'thef trunk tube l'l'and' so thatthe'exteusionmaybe attached to secure the branch and 'trunk' tubes 11"and '12 in"aSsem-' bly' together. As is illustrated" in Fig; 2','one e'nd'ofth'e" branch tube is notched axially of the'br'anch tube ina'n axial direction providing the 'tubewith a-notchedarea 18. The notched areai18includes generallyV-shape'd connected edge portionsdisposed on opposite'sidesdf the opening 17 for close cooperation'w'ith thetrunlc'itube 11. and-.so that thebranch tube is. axial alignment with the trunktube notch or opening or openarea 17.

In assembling the'trunkland'branchtubesll l and 12, thewires '9"rnay be initially telescopedinto thetubell' after the trunk tube "11 has beenTfo'rrned to shape. is illustrated, the trunktubellmay be formed tbsh'ape byprcssingtogether the edgesl'la' and '1'1b"thereby'i'nterlocking the edges in assembly.

angul'arlyturned with respect tO the' trunk'tube and are extendedilaterally outwardly through thenotches'17. In order to facilitate threading of the wires, 'the branch tubes 12 maybe dif'seti slightly downstream with respect tothe notchesllas is shown in 'Figure'2. 'The'bran'ch tubes .12 may: be prevassemb'le'd to enable the branch tube .to vbe longitudinally-moved into overlying relation withrespectitothe wires so that the notched area'18 is engaged against the trunk tube 11 at the notch '17. On the otherhand, the branch tube may be asseinble'd'on the .job. merely by wrappingth'e strip of"materiall'about the tube and interengagingzthe'hooks'13 with the grooves In any case, the

1.4 to thereby form the branch tube. extension 126 may be wrapped aroundlthetubulartrunk tube with a terminal end 12d of the extension "12a-underlappedand telescopedinto-the tube ll to thereby-secure As' the wires are strungthrough the trunk tube? 11 cer'tainlof the wires are ...seal between the tubes.

As is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, one end of the tape at 20a is secured to the branch tube 12 and wrapped one or more times therearound, whereupon the tape is wrapped in a criss-cross manner over the trunk tube 11 and-the opposite terminal end 20b of the tape is then wrapped around the branch tube 12 and adhesively securd in place in assembly therewith.

Illustrated in Figures 5-- and 6 is still another form of my invention wherein the branch strip is intermediately notched at Ma and 2'15, which notchesin the illustrated form, cut across theedges 12a and12b andare each-provided with pairs of diverging notch: dgSa=2L 22 and 2'3, 23 thereby providing the branch strip with an. intermediate portion or-exte'n s ion24 which has" a reduced width as compared with theremainder of 'the' 'strip (Fig. 6). The extension 24 is made of sufiicient length so that it is capable of extending a predetermined distance aboutthe trunk t'ube- 11 ,"as-is illustrated in Figure 5, in 'such manner'th-astemnna1- end portion 25 'of thebr anch? strip may then be enveloped about the outer periphery ofthe'tnbu lar branch tube 'l-2' withtheedges 12a-and12blinter engaged as is shown at 1 2b*inFigure 5 to complete the-assembly of the trunk and branch tubes '11 and' 12.

The dg'esfl12'a and 12b shown in- Figures 5' 'and 6fmay beformed inany suitable'm'anner such as is shown as Figure 3.

If desired; the" terminal' portion 25 may have itsdgs 12d=andQ12b interlocked over thewires the'e'xtensioiffld th'en may'be-wrappedabout the't'runk tube lljandifinally the-main portion of the branch tube may have treedges interlocked sothat' the tubular terminal *pdrtion'ZS is enclos'edther'eby.

With respect to'the modification shown in Figures s afie 6"the*=e'xtensio'n'24 may also comprise an intermediate portion or extension alongeither ofthes trip edges 12a' or 12b-so" long-as there is provided a suitable branch" tube extension to be wrapped around the trunk" tube and "Se cured .to the assembly.

In alli forms'of I my invention, fregardless whether 'the trunk tube is'formed from a single strip of material in thefni'a'nner illustrated, or is extrudedo'r is form'ed in' someother way of any" suitable material, the trunk tubel l is adapted tdbe'notChed' at 18 along the length of the tube" at'any 'suitableslocation and the branchftubes'12fare" adapted-to radiate trom the trunk tube at anysuitable angle with any suitable spacing therebetw'e'en al'f g'the length" of the trunk tube. In'assembly'ofthe tru branch tubes, in. all'forms of my invention, the ranch? tubeisflp'rovided with-an extension which is 'adaptedfto" bef wi'apped'about the trunk' tube. generally afthei location of'i'the notch'in the trunk tube. The wires may 'be thread-f ed through'thetubes any suitable manner andtlie' branchdubeedge's 12aand'12b may be engaged together to. encompass the. branch wires with the branchltube extension suitably secured in place to maintain the "trunk and; branch tubes in assembly.

vIt will be understood that modifications ,and variation s may :be effected without departing from thescope off'thei novel concepts of the :present invention What is claimed -is:

trunk tube providing a series of'branch line outlet open ings, angularly turningg-the wires with=respectto the tube at selective intervals along the-length of the trunk line through the branch outlets, protectively encasing the wires extending exteriorly of the trunk tubeat each of the outlet openings with a'stripof material by inter-locking. the edges of the strip forming a branch tube about the portion of the wires: extending outwardly through the opening; and wrappingfa branch tube extension: about the r trunk tube and securing the extension in place thereby protectively encasing the wire and assembling the branch and the trunk tubes together.

2. In a method of protectively encasing a series of electrical wires and the like, the steps of encasing the wires by enveloping a-trunk tube about the wires, providing the trunk tube along its length with at least one branch line outlet opening, angularly turning the wires with respect to the trunk tube through the branch outlet opening, protectively encasing the branch wires with a strip of material by interlocking the edges of the strip forming a branch tube about the branch wires, and wrapping a branch tube extension about the trunk tube and securing the extension in place thereby protectively encasing the wires and assembling the branch and the trunk tubes together.

3. The method of claim 2 further-characterized by securing the extension in place after wrapping the extension about the trunk line by enveloping the branch tube adjacent the junction of the tube by wrapping portions of the extension about the branch tube and securing the portions together.

4. The method of claim 2 further characterized by telescoping the terminal of the branch tube extension internally into the branch tube after wrapping the extension about the branch line.

5. The method of claim 4 further characterized by wrapping and adhesively securing a piece of tape about the branch and trunk lines protectively sealing the joint between branch and trunk lines.

6. A branched tubular structure for protectively encasing wires and the like comprising trunk and branch tubes with the branch tubes formed from separate pieces of initially fiat, elongated, thin, flexible plastic sheet having integral closure strips extending along the edges thereof and adapted when the sheet is in tubular form to be matingly engaged to form a closed seam, said closure strips having a plurality of ribs and grooves for engagement with one another, said trunk tube having a selected number of open areas along the length thereof with one of said branch tubes being axially aligned with each of said open areas, and means including an extension integral with said branch tube extending longitudinally thereof and wrapped about said trunk tube with said means securing said branch and trunk tubes in unitary assembly together.

7. The branched tubular structure of claim 6 further characterized by said extension being looped around said trunk tube with a terminal end telescoped into the branch tube into underlapping engagement therewith.

8. The branched tubular structure of claim 6 further characterized by said extension not only being wrapped about said trunk tube but also being wrapped around said branch tube and having integral closure strips extending along edges thereof adapted to be matingly engaged to form a closed scam.

9. The branched tubular structure of claim 8 further characterized by said closure strips on said extension having a plurality of ribs and grooves for locking engagement with one another.

10. The branched tubular structure of claim 6 further characterized by said means including adhesive tape wrapped about said branch tubes securing said extension in unitary assembly therewith.

11. The branched tubular structure of claim 6 further characterized by said means including adhesive tape wrapped about both said trunk and said branch tubes securing said extension in unitary assembly therewith.

12. A branched tubular structure for protectively encasing wires and the like comprising trunk and branch tubes with the branch tubes formed from separate pieces of flexible plastic sheet having integral closure strips extending along the edges thereof and adapted when the sheet is in tubular form to be matingly engaged to form a closed seam, said closure strips having a plurality of ribs 6 and grooves for engagement with one another, said trunk tube having a selected number of open areas along the length thereof with one of said branch tubes being aligned with each of said open areas, the branch tubes being notched in an axial direction providing them with notched areas for nesting cooperation and engagement with the main tube, and means between each of said branch tubes and said trunk tube for maintaining them in assembly together and with said open areas in longitudinal alignment with said branch tubes and with the notched areas on the branch tubes being thereby secured in nested engagement with the main tube.

13. A branched tubular structure for protectively encasing wires and the like comprising a trunk and branch tubes, said trunk tube having a selective number of open areas along the length thereof with one of said branch tubes being in axial alignment with each of said open areas, and means securing said branch and trunk tubes in unitary assembly together including thin, flexible, plastic sheet having integral closure strips extending continuously along edges of the strip and adapted to be matingly engaged to form a closed seam, said closure strips having complementary rib and groove means for mated locking engagement to maintain said branch and trunk tubes in assembly together.

14. A branched tubular structure for protectively encasing wires and the like comprising trunk and branch tubes comprised of plastic material, said trunk tube having a selected number of open areas along the length thereof with one of said branch tubes being axially aligned with each of said open areas, and means including an extension integral with said branch tube extending longitudinally thereof and wrapped about said trunk tube with said means securing said branch and trunk tubes in unitary assembly together.

15. A branched tubular structure for protectively encasing wires and the like comprising trunk and branch tubes comprised of plastic material, said trunk tube having a selected number of open areas along the length thereof with one of said branch tubes being axially aligned with each of said open areas, and means including an extension integral with said branch tube extending longitudinally thereof and wrapped about said trunk tube with said means securing said branch and trunk tubes in unitary assembly together, said extension being looped around said trunk tube with a terminal end telescoped into the branch tube into underlapping engagement therewith.

16. A branched tubular structure for protectively encasiug wires and the like comprising trunk and branch tubes comprised of plastic material, said trunk tube having a selected number of open areas along the length thereof with one of said branch tubes being axially aligned with each of said open areas, and means including an extension integral with said branch tube extending longitudinally thereof and wrapped about said trunk tube with said means securing said branch and trunk tubes in unitary assembly together, said extension not only being wrapped about said trunk tube but also being wrapped around said branch tube and having integral closure strips extending along edges thereof adapted to be matingly engaged to form a closed seam.

17. A branched tubular structure for protectively encasing wires and the like comprising trunk and branch tubes comprised of plastic material, said trunk tube having a selected number of open areas along the length thereof with one of said branch tubes being axially aligned with each of said open areas, and means including an extension integral with said branch tube extending longitudinally thereof and wrapped about said trunk tube with said means securing said branch and trunk tubes in unitary assembly together, said extension not only being Wrapped about said trunk tube but also being wrapped around said branch tube and having integral closure strips extending along edges thereof adapted to be matingly engaged to forrn a. closed seam, said closuref sfirips'fon= said extension having -;a plurality of: ribs. and grooves for locking engagement' with one another;

tubes 'c'rn'pr'ised 'of 'plastijc material, said trunk' tube having' a selectednumber of open areas alongz the length there'of with. one" of saigl branch tubes'b'einggaxiall'y alignedfiyith'eaeh of said op'en areas, and 'means include: ing an extension? integral with-said bi'anch 'tube: extenda, ing longitudinally thereof and wrapped about saidtrunk tubewitli said means secur ing said branchaand trunk.

b'ranched tubi11arstructure for {iarotectively em: casing wires and the like comprising trunk and branch l tubes inunitary assembly together, saidime'ansinc'ludingg 4 adhesiv tape wr'apped about 'said' branch 5 tubes securing safd'extension in unitaryiassembly therewith;

branched tubular-structure forl'protectidely rent-V wires I the like :comprising':;t1 unk and branch 2 tubes comprised- 0f plastic material, said i-trunk: tube-3 having aseleetecl number ofopen areas along the :lengths. thereof with one of: said bianchr-ntubesf being axially aligned Witheah of said openareas, and m'eans including' an'-'extensionintegral with said'braneh tube extending. longi idinalh} thereof 7 and Wrapped about said ifunk tube with sai said ra'neh' and" trunk tubes in unitary assembly togther; sai'clf meag emdm adhesivetape wrapped about both said trunk and said branch tubes securing said extensionfinzunitary assembly therewith.

2052.111 azrnethodcofsrformingafbranchedtubulg'r struc: ture for protectively encasingrelectrical;.wiresaandethev.

likerandfoi assembling; therstruc'ture with ,said wires-,1 the together.

sis sneesfl lsdrin th ii 9 th s. ate 1 UNI-TED s L ATESEPAIENTSL 

